Some players rise to the occasion, and others redefine what is possible. Vanderbilt Commodores guard Mikayla Blakes did just that on Sunday, delivering a record-setting performance that etched her name in NCAA history.
In a 98-88 overtime win against Auburn, the freshman guard put up a staggering 55 points, breaking the same single-game freshman scoring record that she set herself a few weeks ago.
Watch Mikayla Blakes Make History With Her Record-Breaking Performance
Mikayla Blakes, a 5’8″ freshman guard, dominated the game, shooting 15-of-28 from the field, hitting two three-pointers, and sinking 23 of her 24 free throws. Her 55-point performance broke the same record she set herself just weeks ago against the Florida Gators.
Mikayla Blakes scored 30 of her 55 POINTS (D-1 Freshman record) in the final 6 minutes of the 4th quarter and OT 🔥pic.twitter.com/2jENhJkgiK https://t.co/mOYQehyhMs
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) February 17, 2025
As the post says, Blakes had only tallied 15 points throughout the game before she went off in the last six minutes of the fourth quarter. She led Vanderbilt on a comeback run that pushed the game into overtime where the Commodores came out victorious.
Her impact extended beyond just scoring. She added five assists, five rebounds, and three steals to her stat line.
Vanderbilt coach Shea Ralph praised the freshman guard but noted that the teamwork around her played a large part in the scoring run.
“I want to say that while it was another amazing performance from Mikayla, she wouldn’t have been able to do that if some other players didn’t step up.”
She also gave credit to Vandy’s other players.
“I thought Leilani Kapinus was amazing today. Aiyana Mitchell came in and got some big rebounds. Madison Greene, Jordyn Oliver, and Khamil Pierre all were outstanding,” Ralph said. “There are lots of ways that we are growing. I’m proud of the resiliency that our team showed today, and I’m excited for them to celebrate a huge win on the road,” she concluded.
A Historic College Basketball Feat
Blakes now holds the NCAA freshman single-game scoring record. She joins an elite group of players in NCAA Division I history, with only Kansas State’s Ayoka Lee holding the all-time single-game record of 61 points, set in 2022.
As previously mentioned, on Jan. 30, she scored 53 points in a win over Florida, making her the only NCAA Division I player—male or female—to score 50 or more points in two games this season. Over her last two games, she has averaged 34.5 points while shooting an efficient 63.6% from the field.
RELATED: Mikayla Blakes Sets Vanderbilt Record with Conference Freshman Honors
With Vanderbilt improving to 19-7 overall and 6-6 in SEC play, Blakes’ contributions are proving invaluable. As the regular season winds down, she has firmly established herself as one of the most dynamic scorers in college basketball, regardless of gender.
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